Socialists in fresh calls for Spanish PM to resign

Spain’s opposition Socialist Party has called for the resignation of prime minister Mariano Rajoy over a corruption scandal as a poll showed the lowest support on record for his centre-right People’s Party (PP).

Media reports over the past two weeks alleged at least a dozen senior PP officials, including Mr Rajoy, received payments from a slush fund operated by its former treasurer.

Mr Rajoy denies wrongdoing, but the scandal has provoked fury among Spaniards already disenchanted by deep recession and high unemployment, as support for the two biggest parties slumps.

“Rather than the solution for this country, Rajoy has become yet another problem,” Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, leader of the Socialist PSOE, said yesterday.

An opinion poll published yesterday showed neither of the two big parties could win a clear majority. It showed 23.9 per cent support for the PP and 23.5 per cent for the PSOE.